How To Create a Capsule Wardrobe: Theo & George

Struggling to look chic and put together? Irish designer Katie O’Riordan from Theo+George is here to teach you how to create a capsule wardrobe.

We’ve all had that panic first thing in the morning, OMG I’ve nothing to wear! The thing is, underneath all that mess, lies the capsule wardrobe we’ve all been dreaming of. You just have to clear out the junk. We sat down with Katie O’Riordan of Teo+George, as she shows us how to create a capsule wardrobe. Catch up with video, and check out the top takeaways below.

OK, so what exactly is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a small wardrobe, containing typically 30 to 40 pieces that includes clothes and accessories. Usually a wardrobe would be changed every 3 months due to seasonal change but as Irish weather tends to stay the same, it’s important that pieces carry over into each season.

When you’re thinking about how to create a capsule wardrobe, what are the types of pieces that spring to mind?

Pieces that are important to us are outerwear. When you live in Ireland, majority of the time, you’re going to be wearing your winter coat all the time so it’s good to invest in a coat that will last the long haul. Tshirts are a staple year round and are great for layering. It’s important to find pieces that are high in quality, you have to be able to wash it, it’s all about cost per wear.

So, how do I start to create a capsule wardrobe?

Dump everything on the bed, then walk away. Give yourself a breather. Go back to your wardrobe with a clear mind clean and start to tackle what’s on your bed. The rule is, everything has to be off your bed by the time you go to sleep. Create piles. The clothes you wear all the time go into one pile, the clothes you aren’t too sure about go into another and then the clothes you don’t wear at all, put into recycling/charity.

Over 70% of the world’s population use second hand clothes. Or a great idea is to repurpose those pieces. You can use them as rags for cleaning the house or you can channel your inner designer and create something different. The pieces you aren’t too sure of, start to make more sense because you can start to see how they might fit in with the pieces you wear all the time.

Cleaning out your wardrobe makes you see all your pieces clearly and can get dressed so much faster which is so handy first thing in the morning. When you have the staples and the basics that you need, it’s a lot easier to get dressed. More time to enjoy your coffee.

I want my clothes to last longer, what should I do?

Don’t wash everything. As long as it’s not dirty, put it back into the drawer. Look at the garments you are buying, what are they made of? Read the care label, what does it say? All this leads to your clothes lasting longer. Look at the brands you are buying from. Where are they producing their clothes? If a brand isn’t willing to tell you this, you should probably question the quality of the garment. Give your clothes proper time to rest. If you have a favourite tshirt and wear it 7 days a week, of course it’s not going to last very long. Don’t wear it every day. Rotate your pieces. Theo & George make sure their tshirts wash well. They also specialise in coats that you can clean with spot treatment. Save on those dry cleaning bills!

What are the absolute essentials in creating a capsule wardrobe?

The easiest way is to start top to bottom. Tshirts like v necks and crew necks are great for layering especially in the winter. Invest in a good pair of jeans because more than likely, you will wear them everyday. Jumpers, having a good wool, cashmere jumper is key. Outerwear – make sure you have a coat that transcends your pieces. A striped shirt is a great basic. Leisure wear, should be the most comfy thing you invest in. A little black dress.

Thank you to Katie who helped us GirlCrewers sort out our wardrobes. What are your favourite pieces to wear? Describe your style in the comments below.

How the collection started: Katie launched Theo and George in 2013 after having her first child. She wanted to create easy to wear pieces, practical for her lifestyle. Pieces that were interchangeable, and would allow anyone to create a capsule wardrobe. They needed to be clothes you can live in and wear all the time. The important thing about having a small wardrobe is, you have to wear pieces that you love. The company do mostly black, white and greys, with each season concentrating on a trend piece. Something you can dress up and down, something that can work for all occasions. Perfect.